South Africa where it is to be found in the eastern
summer rainfall provinces of the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal,
Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. Hypoxis hemerocallidea occurs in a wide range
of habitats, including sandy hills on the margins of dune forests, open
grassland, rocky grassland, dry stony, grassy slopes, mountain slopes and
plateaus and road verges.

Description

Hypoxis hemerocallidea is a very attractive perennial
with a large dark brown corm which is yellow on the inside when freshly cut
turning black with time due to oxidation.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea has strap like leaves which grow
up to 400 mm in lenght, neatly arranged one above the other in 3 ranks, broad,
stiff and arching outwards with prominent ribs and tapering towards the tips.
The lower surface of the leaves is densely hairy with white hairs. Leaves
appear above ground in spring before the flowers.

The flowers are short-lived and close at midday. Flowers
open sequentially from the base to the apex. Usually 1–3 flowers are open at
the same time, thus encouraging cross-pollination.

The fruiting capsule is called a pyxis which splits along
its diameter causing the upper portion of the capsule to drop off, exposing the
black seeds that soon tip out.

The specific name hemerocallidea is derived from the
Greek hemera (a day) and kallos (beauty), presumably
referring to the flowers which are short-lived and resemble the day
lily Hemerocallis.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm showing the yellow flesh on the inside

Ecology

Hypoxis hemerocallidea is drought and fire-tolerant
occurring widely in grassland where frequent fires are a feature of the ecological regime.

Being deciduous Hypoxis hemerocallidea is dormant in winter the leaves having matured and died in the late summer as the ground gets drier and re-appear immediately after fire and begin to flower even in the middle of winter in frost free areas, often before the first summer rains.

Fire clearly defines the beginning of the growing season.

The flowers of Hypoxis hemerocallidea are pollinated in
particular by bees as well as other pollinators.

I have observed that it is browsed by indigenous domestic
livestock in particular in the early spring after veld fires.

Uses and cultural aspects

iNkomfe (Hypoxis hemerocallidea) which is widely sold in
many muthi markets, is probably the best known traditional medicinal plant in
South Africa having been used for centuries, in recent years commercial
products have become widely available in pharmacies.

Weak infusions and decoctions of the corm are used as a
tonic and during convalescence, and against tuberculosis and cancer. It is also
used for prostate hypertrophy, urinary tract infections, testicular tumours, as
a laxative and to expel intestinal worms. Anxiety, palpitations, depression and
rheumatoid arthritis are further ailments treated.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea has been very much in the
limelight during the past two decades often being hailed as “miracle muthi” and
“wonder potato”, today it is surrounded by controversy.

Hypoxoside a phytochemical has been isolated from Hypoxis
hemerocallidea. This is an inactive compound which is converted to rooperol in
the body, which has potent pharmacological properties relevant to cancer,
inflammations and HIV.

Another compound which has been isolated from Hypoxis is
sitosterol or phytosterol, which is an immuno-enhancer. Sitosterols are found
in many green plants, and this is the main component of the commercial product
‘Moducare'.

A dye which is used to blacken floors is made from the
leaves and corm.

The leaves are used to make rope.

Growing Hypoxis hemerocallidea

Hypoxis hemerocallidea is a hardy very attractive drought
and frost tolerant deciduous geophyte that is extremely easy to grow which is
an asset to any landscape or garden. It grows well in most soil types in full
sun to partial shade where it flowers freely throughout summer. The yellow
star-like flowers are eye-catching.

Propagating Hypoxis hemerocallidea

If one has a little patience Hypoxis hemerocallidea is
easily propagated in large numbers from the vast numbers of small round shiny
black seed that each plant produces. The seeds of Hypoxis hemerocallidea grow
particularly well in raised seedbeds open to the ground for free drainage,
however they have a dormancy period of about a year that needs to be taken into
account, so collect the seed and store it in a cool dry place for planting in
the next growing season. Making a fire over the seed once it has been planted
as in most grassland species both grasses and forbs helps to break dormancy as
well as stimulates the seed to germinate.

Use in the landscape

No indigenous or natural garden should be without masses
of this very attractive local plant, use could also be made of Hypoxis
hemerocallidea in formal landscape design where it can be either inter-planted
with plants such as succulents that remain green during its winter dormancy or
the beds which are planted to it can be attractively mulched with bark chips or
other materials until it re-sprouts at the end of it´s winter rest. In the
absence of fire watering will cause it to re-sprout earlier after a short dry rest
period.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea has proved to be a very suitable
plant for extensive green roof plantings in the summer rainfall areas because
of its drought resistance and the fact that it is dormant during the dry winter
months.